Saturday, March 7, 2015

Packed to the brim with ancient monuments leftover from a parade of
conquerors and endowed with showcase scenery that never fails to
impress, Turkey is a dazzling destination that straddles Asia and
Europe. Its vibrant culture, famed cuisine and vast history wow all who
venture here while its glorious landscapes - from the sun soaked
Mediterranean to the mighty mountains and arid steppe - are a highlight
in themselves. Whether you want to lap up the Byzantine and Ottoman
glories of Istanbul on a city break, laze on the beach, delve into
history wandering through ruins such as Ephesus or see some of the
world's most surreal panoramas in Pamukkale and Cappadocia, this country
has attractions galore.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Kashmir (Kashmiri: کٔشِیر
/ कॅशीर; Hindi: कश्मीर; Urdu: کشمیر‎; Shina: کشمیر), archaically spelt Cashmere,
is the northwestern region of South Asia.
Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only
the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. Today, it denotes a
larger area that includes the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir (which consists of Jammu, the Kashmir
Valley, and Ladakh), the
Pakistan-administered autonomous territories of Azad
Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan,
and the Chinese-administered regions of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram
Tract.

In the first
half of the 1st millennium, the Kashmir region became an important centre of Hinduism and later of Buddhism;
later still, in the ninth century, Kashmir Shaivism aroseIn 1349, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Salatin-i-Kashmir
or Swati dynast For
the next five centuries, Muslim monarchs ruled Kashmir, including the Mughals, who ruled from 1526 until 1751, and the
Afghan Durrani Empire, which ruled from
1747 until 1820. That year, the Sikhs,
under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir. In
1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh
War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Kashmir. The
rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the
British Crown, lasted until 1947, when the former
princely state of British India
became a disputed territory, now
administered by three countries: India, Pakistan, and the People's Republic of
China.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Monday, March 2, 2015

Cox's Bazar (Bengali: কক্সবাজারKaksbājār)
is a town, a fishing port and district headquarters in Bangladesh. It is the
world's longest uninterrupted natural sandy sea beach,The beach in Cox's Bazar
is an unbroken 125 km sandy sea beach with a gentle slope. It is located
150 km south of the industrial port Chittagong. Cox’s Bazar is also known
by the name Panowa, whose literal translation means "yellow
flower." Its other old name was "Palongkee".

The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain Hiram Cox (died 1799),
an officer serving in British India. An officer of the British East India
Company, Captain Cox was appointed Superintendent of Palongkee outpost after Warren
Hastings became Governor of Bengal. Captain Cox was specially mobilised to deal
with a century-long conflict between Arakan refugees and local Rakhains. He
embarked upon the mammoth task of rehabilitating refugees in the area and made
significant progress. A premature death took Captain Cox in 1799 before he
could finish his work. To commemorate his role in rehabilitation work, a market
was established and named Cox's Bazar ("Cox's Market") after him.

Today, Cox's Bazar is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in
Bangladesh. It has yet to become a major international tourist destination, and
has no international hotel chains, due to lack of publicity and
transportation.Recently Bangladesh Government has formed Tourist Police unit to
better protect local and foreign tourists as well as look after the nature and
wildlife in the tourist spots of Cox's Bazar.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Early Years

Dictator Adolf Hitler was born in Branau am Inn, Austria, on April 20, 1889,
and was the fourth of six children born to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. When
Hitler was 3 years old, the family moved from Austria to Germany. As a child,
Hitler clashed frequently with his father. Following the death of his younger
brother, Edmund, in 1900, he became detached and introverted. His father did
not approve of his interest in fine art rather than business. In addition to
art, Hitler showed an early interest in German nationalism, rejecting the
authority of Austria-Hungary. This nationalism would become the motivating
force of Hitler's life.

Alois died suddenly in 1903. Two years later, Adolf's mother allowed her son
to drop out of school. He moved to Vienna and worked as a casual laborer and a
watercolor painter. Hitler applied to the Academy of Fine Arts twice, and was
rejected both times. Out of money, he moved into a homeless shelter, where he
remained for several years. Hitler later pointed to these years as the time
when he first cultivated his anti-Semitism, though there is some debate about
this account.

At the outbreak of World War I, Hitler applied to serve in the German army.
He was accepted in August 1914, though he was still an Austrian citizen.
Although he spent much of his time away from the front lines, Hitler was
present at a number of significant battles and was wounded at the Somme. He was
decorated for bravery, receiving the Iron Cross First Class and the Black Wound
Badge.

Hitler became embittered over the collapse of the war effort. The experience
reinforced his passionate German patriotism, and he was shocked by Germany's
surrender in 1918. Like other German nationalists, he believed that the German
army had been betrayed by civilian leaders and Marxists. He found the Treaty of
Versailles degrading, particularly the demilitarization of the Rhineland and
the stipulation that Germany accept responsibility for starting the war.

After World War I, Hitler returned to Munich and continued to work for the
military as an intelligence officer. While monitoring the activities of the
German Workers’ Party (DAP), Hitler adopted many of the anti-Semitic,
nationalist and anti-Marxist ideas of DAP founder Anton Drexler. Drexler
invited Hitler to join the DAP, which he did in 1919.

To increase its appeal, the DAP changed its name to the Nationalsozialistische
Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP). Hitler personally designed the party
banner, featuring a swastika in a white circle on a red background. Hitler soon
gained notoriety for his vitriolic speeches against the Treaty of Versailles,
rival politicians, Marxists and Jews. In 1921, Hitler replaced Drexler as NSDAP
party chairman.

Hitler's vitriolic beer-hall speeches began attracting regular audiences.
Early followers included army captain Ernst Rohm, the head of the Nazi
paramilitary organization, the Sturmabteilung (SA), which protected meetings
and frequently attacked political opponents.

On November 8, 1923, Hitler and the SA stormed a public meeting of 3,000
people at a large beer hall in Munich. Hitler announced that the national
revolution had begun and declared the formation of a new government. After a
short struggle including 20 deaths, the coup, known as the "Beer Hall
Putsch," failed.

Hitler was arrested three days later and tried for high treason. He served a
year in prison, during which time he dictated most of the first volume of Mein
Kampf ("My Struggle") to his deputy, Rudolf Hess. The book laid
out Hitler's plans for transforming German society into one based on race.

Upon assuming
the presidency after his release, Sheikh Mujib
briefly assumed the provisional presidency and later took office as the prime
minister, heading all organs of government and decision-making. The politicians
elected in 1970 formed the provisional parliament
of the new state. The Mukti Bahini and other militias amalgamated to form a new
Bangladeshi army to which Indian forces
transferred control on March 17. The government faced serious challenges, which
including the rehabilitation of millions of people displaced in 1971,
organizing the supply of food, health aids and other necessities. The effects
of the 1970 cyclone had not worn off, and the state's economy had immensely deteriorated by the
conflict.

Mujib helped
Bangladesh enter into the United Nations
and the Non-Aligned Movement. He
travelled to the United States, the United Kingdom and other European nations
to obtain humanitarian and developmental assistance for the nation. He signed a
treaty of friendship with India, which pledged extensive economic and
humanitarian assistance and began training Bangladesh's security forces and
government personnel.Mujib forged a close friendship with Indira Gandhi,strongly
praising India's decision to intercede, and professed admiration and friendship
for India. Major efforts were launched to rehabilitate an estimated 10 million
refugees. The economy began recovering and a famine
was prevented. A constitution was proclaimed in 1973 and elections were held, which resulted in Mujib and
his party gaining power with an absolute majority. He further outlined state
programmes to expand primary education,
sanitation, food, healthcare, water and electric supply across the country. A
five-year plan released in 1973 focused state investments into agriculture, rural
infrastructure and cottage industries.

In 1974, Bangladesh
experienced the deadliest famine ever, which killed around 1.5 million
Bangladeshi people from hunger. The Bangladesh
famine of 1974 is a major source of discontent against Mujib's
government. Bangladeshi people feel ashamed, insulted and demoralized as a
nation for this famine that was not due to a food crisis.

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL)

The 1974 famine had personally shocked Mujib and
profoundly affected his views on governance while political unrest gave rise to
increasing violence. During the famine, 70000 people were reported as dead
(Note: Reports vary). In response, he began increasing his powers. On January
25, 1975 Mujib declared a state of emergency
and his political supporters approved a constitutional amendment banning all
opposition political parties. Mujib assumed the presidency and was given
extraordinary powers.[2][5] His political supporters amalgamated to
form the only legalised political party, the Bangladesh
Krishak Sramik Awami League, commonly known by its initials—BAKSAL.
The party identified itself with the rural masses, farmers and labourers and
took control of government machinery. It also launched major socialist
programmes. Using government forces and a militia of supporters called the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini,
Mujib oversaw the arrest of opposition activists and strict control of
political activities across the country. Members of Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini were
granted immunity from prosecution and other legal proceedings.The militia known
as RakhiBahini and police were accused of torturing suspects and political
killings. While retaining support from many segments of the population, Mujib
evoked anger amongst veterans of the liberation war for what was seen as a
betrayal of the causes of democracy and civil
rights.

Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and aftermath

On August 15,
1975, a group of junior army officers invaded the presidential residence with tanks and killed Mujib, his family and personal
staff. Only his daughters Sheikh Hasina Wajed
and Sheikh Rehana, who were visiting West Germany, escaped. They were banned from
returning to Bangladesh. The coup was planned by disgruntled Awami League
colleagues and military officers, which included Mujib's colleague and former
confidanté Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, who
became his immediate successor. There was intense speculation in the media
accusing the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
of having instigated the plot. Lawrence Lifschultz has alleged that the CIA was
involved in the coup and assassination, basing his assumption on the then US
ambassador in Dhaka Eugene Booster.

Mujib's death
plunged the nation into many years of political turmoil. The coup leaders were
soon overthrown and a series of counter-coups and political assassinations
paralysed the country. Order was largely restored after a coup in 1977 gave
control to the army chief Ziaur Rahman.
Declaring himself President in 1978, Ziaur Rahman signed the Indemnity Ordinance, giving immunity from
prosecution to the men who plotted Mujib's assassination and overthrow.

Ziaur Rahman administration, 1975-81

Successive
military coups resulted in the emergence of Army Chief of Staff General Ziaur Rahman ("Zia") as strongman. He
pledged the army's support to the civilian government headed by President Chief
Justice Sayem. Acting at Zia's behest, Sayem dissolved Parliament, promising
fresh elections in 1977, and instituted martial law.

Acting behind
the scenes of the Martial Law Administration (MLA), Zia sought to invigorate
government policy and administration. While continuing the ban on political
parties, he sought to revitalize the demoralized bureaucracy, to begin new
economic development programs, and to emphasize family planning. In November
1976, Zia became Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) and assumed the
presidency upon Sayem's retirement five months later, promising national
elections in 1978.

Processions
following funeral of Ziaur Rahama

As President,
Zia announced a 19-point program of economic reform and began dismantling the
MLA. Keeping his promise to hold elections, Zia won a five-year term in June
1978 elections, with 76% of the vote. In November 1978, his government removed
the remaining restrictions on political party activities in time for
parliamentary elections in February 1979. These elections, which were contested
by more than 30 parties, marked the culmination of Zia's transformation of
Bangladesh's Government from the MLA to a democratically elected,
constitutional one. The AL and the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP), founded by Zia, emerged as the two major
parties.

In May 1981,
Zia was assassinated in Chittagong by
dissident elements of the military. The attempted coup never spread beyond that
city, and the major conspirators were either taken into custody or killed. In
accordance with the constitution, Vice President Justice Abdus Sattar was sworn
in as a